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Win a Family ticket to the The Jubilee Family Festival
We have ten family passes to give away to see Thomas the Tank Engine™ on stage at the Jubilee Family Festival
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posts related to: Diary
Diary of a dad-to-be: week 23
Maria’s pregnancy has reached a major turning point. The week is dominated by the results of her latest scan. An irregularity has shownup, which could be an indicator of Down’s syndrome. What do we do ? She’s adamant that amniocentesis, a test which would confirm or deny the problem, is not the way forward. She’s…
Posted in Antenatal Care, Dad, Pregnancy Tests
Tagged Diary, Down syndrome, Family, Fertility, Online pregnancy diary, Pregnancy
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Diary of a dad-to-be: Week 16
After a weekend in Paris we arrive home and Maria is in the unusual position of unpacking and packing at the same time. She’s off to Ireland for a week to visit friends and, with Sam going too, the preparations need almost military precision. Nappies, toys, travel cot, pushchair etc, etc. I drive them to…
Posted in Dad, Pregnancy
Tagged dad-to-be, Diary, Flight, Ireland, Online pregnancy diary, Paris, Pregnant
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Government to Issue ‘Learning Diaries’ to parents of newborns
Parents of newborn babies will be issued with ‘learning diaries’ in the latest government scheme to monitor children’s progress. The £9million plan will be trialled by a sample of councils serving disadvantaged areas and could eventually be extended more widely. But it is already causing controversy amongst many parents who see it as just another…
Diary of a Dad-to-be: Week 20
The week begins with a visit to one of Maria’s old school friends, who has a six-month-old daughter to add to a five-year-old son and three-year-old daughter. Very much a handful! We sit down and have tea, accompanied by three other friends from the circle, and the conversation inevitably revolves around babies. As the only…
Diary of a dad-to-be: Week 15
Maria is beginning to come through the incessant nausea she’s been feeling in the early weeks of the pregnancy, but she’s still always dead tired. Evenings inevitably follow a pattern of dealing with Sam’s needs, a hastily concocted supper and an early trip to bed. The weariness Maria feels is contagious. She comforts herself with…
Diary of a dad-to-be: The aftermath
We decided to name our baby Gemma, after batting with a vast list of names. There’s no great science to choosing – there can’t be, instinct takes a hold and you just plump for the one that hits you between the eyes. I can’t imagine her being called anything else now. It’s amazing the effect…
Diary of a dad-to-be: The birth
Maria and I arrived at the hospital at around 5am – neither of us are superstitious but we remarked on the happy coincidence that this was the hour when our son Sam was born. While Maria’s labour with Sam was the marathon to end marathons, we were hopeful that the same scenario would not occur…
Diary of a dad-to-be: Week 18
The week begins with an appointment with Maria’s midwife. These meetings are always kind of odd, I feel like an interloper at a medical – all the questions are obviously directed at Maria and her well-being and I have no real input apart from being there for her support. It’s a role I have no…
Diary of a dad-to-be : Week 21
A landmark week for Maria – she’s hit the halfway point. I remark on how well the ‘bump’ is progressing and receive a mixed response. The ‘F-word’ comes up again… FAT. It’s never far from the surface and is becoming a very sensitive issue. In my efforts to reassure Maria that the pregnancy is going…
Diary of a dad-to-be: Week 22
The major event of week 22 is a scan at the local hospital. We turn up in the pouring rain and I drop Maria off before going in search of a car park space. Remembering the lengthy waits for these consultations when Maria was pregnant with Sam, I take my time and stroll back…
